Leyton, who was entreating her in the usual
mysterious signal to the other ladies to rise and follow her. When she
reached the drawing-room, a little behind the others, she was somewhat
surprised to observe that the stranger whom she had missed during the
evening was approaching her with Mrs. Leyton.
"Mr. Rushbrook returned sooner than he expected, but unfortunately,
as he always retires early, he has only time to say 'goodnight' to you
before he goes."
For an instant Grace Nevil was more angry than disconcerted. Then came
the conviction that she was stupid not to have suspected the truth
before. Who else would that brusque stranger develop into but this rude
host? She bowed formally.
Mr. Rushbrook looked at her with the faintest smile on his handsome
mouth. "Well, Miss Nevil, I hope Jack Somers satisfied your curiosity?"
With a sudden recollection of the Siskyou gentleman's speech, and a
swift suspicion that in some way she had been made use of with the
others by this forceful-looking man before her, she answered pertly:--
"Yes; but there was a speech by a gentleman from Siskyou that struck me
as being nearer to the purpose.
Pages:
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263